Currently, the clutch is fine. What I meant to say was that I need to begin to set aside ~ $3K for a clutch kit and a few tranny upgrades. I hope to make it to 60K. I am going in then.

 

carreraken, Assuming a perfect PPI, $25K is a very fair price point. If you go forward, gather some $$$ and address the known issues at whatever cost. The P-car world ain't cheap. But, it sure is fun.

 

A disciplined guy. Tip-o-the-hat.

So what transmission upgrades are done at 60k?

 

Aside from an OEM clutch kit, an EVO billet shift linkage, and an EVO short shifter for starters.

 

Yes, I thought the price was reasonable - pending inspection.

Thanks for the advice.

ken

 

I've done all of this and still had to replace my engine (in a 2002 C2) at about 142K miles. I've got 189K miles on the car. I think the engine replacement problem is really just a random but very real problem.

But, I've never had any RMS or IMS problems (on the original or replacement engine.

I'm not trying to start anything. I'm just throwing this out there as additional data.

b-man

 

If it wasn't IMS, why did you replace the engine?

 

OMG... you had to replace the engine at 142k? Man, I would have loved that! Lost mine at 33k. Could have beat the hell out of a POS Kia and it would have outlasted that car.

But as I understand it, the 2002 motors were an order of magnitude more reliable than the first 996's. The market certainly reflects this, tho they were higher performance too. Values seem to pop 20% for 2002+. Maybe more.

 

If I remember correctly, the variocam or variocam plus or whatever it's called wasn't working properly and would change the valve/cam timing incorrectly. Then the engine would run really badly, so badly that it would sometimes shut off ignition to a cylinder. That would be hard on the engine and I eventually blew a head gasket.

b-man

 

Replaced engine at 86,000 due to coolant and oil mixture on 2000 C4. Car maintained and never tracked.

 

FYI sounds like you need a more experienced mechanic. The variocam + problem should have been fixed & these engines very rarely have head gasket problems if ever.

 

So is the problem with the variocam such that is causes radical timing problems or is it that the cylinder shuts down? Would the latter blow a head gasket? Either way, doesn't the 996 computer know enough to fire the check engine light? By the same token, a lot of cars have a "limp home mode". Do 996's have such a thing? That might have saved my 986 S motor.

 

I'm guessing the timing chain wear pads were worn enough to cause valve timing fluctuations & caused intermitant misfires. Removing the cam/valve cover could confirm that or rebuilt the variocam actuator if needed. I don't think these year Porsche have a limp home mode, only the flashing CEL that indicates misfire damaging to the converters. Jake Raby says he has never seen a blown head gasket. Why was the conclusion head gasket?

 

There was a LOT of smoke, and there was coolant coming out of both exhaust pipes. I know, I must have imagined that because these cars rarely have head gasket problems and rarely have engine replacement problems too (sorry, I can't help being a little bitter and sarcastic about this).

My mechanic is very good, very experienced, and very honest.

I can't remember the details about the engine problem(s). But, I think there were several related issues that triggered check engine light (constant on and flashing light) for a while. Sometimes it would kill ignition (or maybe fuel?) to the affected cylinder, which I understand to be the limp home mode. Then the resulting uneven pressures would be the biggest contributor to the blown head gasket (if I remember this correctly).

When the one cylinder would shut down, I would usually kill the ignition completely with my key, then start the car again, usually while the car was still moving at speed! That would always (if I remember correctly) fix it temporarily.

When I looked into this very closely (with my mechanic) and thought this through very carefully, the cost of fixing the problem(s) didn't make finanical sense to me. It may have had something to do with not being completely sure the engine would be fixed, all of the labor/time involved, etc.

It made more sense to me to get a replacement engine when the first one let go. So I kept driving it until it did.

I know, I know, Jake Raby (whoever he is) could have fixed it all with his Swiss army knife and bubble gum in under an hour. (Sorry, more sarcasm and bitterness!)

If it matters, my 2002 car was one of the earliest ones that came into the U.S. I would still buy it again. But I don't kid myself into thinking these are perfect cars, or even close to it.

b-man

 

jeez, that sounds ugly, b-man. And the 2002's are supposed to be much better engines too. Of course, it could have been worse for you tho. The engine could have let go all at once while you were on a busy long narrow bridge. Happened to me. Horrifying.

I must be out of my bloody mind looking for an early 996....